EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

Words are powerful!

Repetition - practice until you can't get it wrong.

Take a "great breath" to help with your focus.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"The key to being successful is practicing something so many times until you can't get it wrong."

"Performing in front of 20,000 people really helps with your confidence."

GARRETT'S WORST MOMENT AS A PERFORMER

When performing with the Blue Devils drum corps, an instructor took him aside a few minutes prior to a major event and told him, "You miss too many notes." Because I was thinking about missing notes, I went on to have a terrible show, and of course missed a lot of notes.

THE HOT SEAT

Q: It’s 5 minutes before you go on stage for an important performance… What are you doing?

A: We wait until the last possible moment to get dressed. We're cracking jokes together, trying to keep a light environment.

Q: What’s the best performance-related advice you've ever received?

A:  Dave Schultz said, "Just have fun."

Q: Can you share one tip for our listeners to help deal with stage fright? (Physical, mental, etc.)

A: Andrew Golden said, "Just eat a banana. No one ever died because you missed a note."

Q: What’s a non-musical activity that contributes to your success as a musician?

A: Cooking has a wonderful correlation to music. Fundamentals, recipes, etc. Cooking keeps me honest because if I don't make a meal well, it's because I haven't practiced enough.

Q: Imagine you’re on stage. It’s the end of the performance and the audience is on its feet, applauding. They don’t want any more and they don’t want any less. Everything is perfect. What have you just done?

A: On the show Blast! in Tokyo. That show is so loved by the public in Japan.